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Laila Soueif announces life-endangering action in protest over continued detention of Alaa Abd el-Fattah in CairoThe mother of the imprisoned British-Egyptian human rights activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah has announced she has resumed a near-total hunger strike, stopping taking the 300-calorie supplements she had been consuming on her partial hunger strike for the past three months.Since the start of her hunger strike 233 days ago, Laila Soueif, 69, has lost 36kg, about 42% of her original body weight, and now weighs 49kg. She is taking the life-endangering step in protest at the continued detention of her son in Cairo beyond his five-year sentence. Continue reading...

Palestinian territory must not be reduced nor subjected to any demographic change,' joint statement declares after Israel announces military expansion

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Labor's 2025-26 budget includes more money for health, education and $2.3bn in cost-of-living measures

Trump's interventions have infuriated India, which has not emerged from conflict as triumphant as it had hopedAgainst the odds, the ceasefire that followed Indian and Pakistan's almost-war has held; fragile, uneasy but still unbroken. Yet in the aftermath of four days of cross-border drones and missile strikes - the most technologically advanced conflict either side have ever engaged in - the question remains: what now?While both India and Pakistan have claimed victory, some experts fear that a return to hostilities is almost inevitable. Continue reading...

Liberal sources say National party gave Ley less than an hour's warning of their decision

In today's newsletter: A humanitarian worker outlines the situation on the ground following an 11-week blockade - and whether the country's announcement will make a differenceGood morning.As Israel intensifies its assault on Gaza, bombarding the already besieged strip with relentless airstrikes and expanding its ground operations to take control of all areas", the international community has urged Israel to open the border for aid. Countries including France, the UK and Canada have threatened action against Israel if it does not stop its assault on Gaza, which were described as disproportionate" and intolerable".Europe | Keir Starmer has vowed his EU reset deal will deliver cheaper food and energy for British people, heralding a win-win" as he sealed the high-stakes agreement with concessions on youth visas and fishing.Russia | Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump have held a rare phone call, which the US leader described as excellent", but the Kremlin refused to agree to an immediate ceasefire in the war with Ukraine despite pressure from Washington and European allies.UK news | The personal data of hundreds of thousands of legal aid applicants in England and Wales dating back to 2010, including criminal records and financial details, has been accessed and downloaded in a significant" cyber-attack.Welfare | At least 357m in carer's allowance benefit was paid out in error over the past six years because of official failures, resulting in debt and misery being inflicted on tens of thousands of people.NHS | A senior doctor has been accused of wrongly failing to escalate the care of a 13-year-old girl whose death led to the adoption of Martha's rule, which gives the right to a second medical opinion in hospitals. Continue reading...

Simon Spurrell was forced to sell his business because of 600,000 loss caused by Brexit red tapeA British cheese maker who was forced to sell his business because of a 600,000 loss caused by Brexit red tape has welcomed the new deal with Brussels - but says it comes four years too late.Simon Spurrell, who made headlines when he highlighted prohibitive export costs after the UK's exit from the single market, said he was delighted the grownups are back in the room" and he will now consider relaunching his business as long as the details are confirmed. Continue reading...

The split from the Nationals may help the Liberals work out who they are after a crushing election defeat

Mid north coast and Hunter region cops barrage of extreme weather, with more than 60 schools closed and people in Taree advised to take shelter

John Yates, formerly the most senior detective in London's Met police, tells Sydney coroner that criticism of security guard's response was very harsh'

Payments of up to 5,000 to be made to hundreds of sub-postmasters whose details were published onlineHundreds of former sub-postmasters will reportedly be compensated by the Post Office after it accidentally leaked their names and addresses in June 2024.According to the BBC, the Post Office has confirmed that individual payouts will be capped at 5,000 although higher claims may still be pursued. Continue reading...

Twenty-three-year-old man shot at least four times in Condell Park after he arrived home on Monday night

Couple promise to dedicate majority of their money to tackling environmental issues via The Giving Pledge

New study found a drop in enjoyment, trust and feelings of safety after year 7 and a largely positive primary experienceOne in four pupils in England disengage" when they move up to secondary school, with enjoyment, trust and a sense of feeling safe declining sharply, according to a new report.After a largely positive experience at primary school where children report high levels of enjoyment, there is a steep and lasting" drop in engagement after year 7 when pupils transfer to secondary at the age of 11, the survey of 100,000 pupils in England reveals. Continue reading...

While mortality from cancer has decreased, deaths from accidents and poisonings have risen, research findsThe UK is becoming the sick person of the wealthy world" because of the growing number of people dying from drugs, suicide and violence, research has found.Death rates among under-50s in the UK have got worse in recent years compared with many other rich countries, an international study shows. Continue reading...

Maria Jose Estupinan, 22, was killed by a suspect who arrived at her house disguised as a delivery man, police sayThe murder of a Colombian model and influencer, now being investigated as a possible femicide, has triggered widespread outrage and renewed criticism of the country's failure to protect women.Maria Jose Estupinan, a 22-year-old student, model and influencer from the north-eastern city of Cucuta, was killed on 15 May. According to the police, the suspect arrived at her house disguised as a delivery man and shot Estupinan in the face when she opened the door. Surveillance camera footage showed the suspect fleeing shortly afterwards. Continue reading...

As Palestinians are told to evacuate before unprecedented attack', the White House continues to publicly back IsraelAs Israel orders Palestinians to evacuate Khan Younis in advance of what it calls an unprecedented attack" on Gaza, much of Washington remains largely unmoved, even as Canada and European countries threaten concrete actions" if Israel does not scale back its offensive.Despite reports of growing pressure from the Trump administration to increase aid into Gaza, where widespread famine looms, the White House continues to publicly back Israel. National security council spokesperson James Hewitt told the Guardian in an email: Hamas has rejected repeated ceasefire proposals, and therefore bears sole responsibility for this conflict," maintaining the policy stance inherited from the previous Biden administration despite mounting evidence of humanitarian catastrophe. Continue reading...

He would punch her, choke her, slap her,' says Richard as second week of music mogul's sex-trafficking trial resumesThe second week of Sean Diddy" Combs's racketeering conspiracy and sex-trafficking trial began on Monday morning with the singer Dawn Richard returning to the witness stand.Combs, 55, is facing charges of sex-trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He was arrested in September 2024 and has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges. Continue reading...

Site in French Guiana once received prisoners who were sent to notorious Devil's Island off the coastFrench plans to build a maximum-security prison wing for drug traffickers and Islamic militants near a former penal colony in French Guiana have sparked an outcry among residents and local officials.The wing would form part of a $450m (337m) prison announced in 2017 that is expected to be completed by 2028 and hold 500 inmates. The prison would be built in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, a town bordering Suriname that once received prisoners shipped by Napoleon III in the 1800s, some of whom were sent to the notorious Devil's Island off the coast of French Guiana. Continue reading...

Family of Kayden Moy, 16, say he will be sorely missed', while police continue investigation and call for informationA 17-year-old boy has been charged in connection with the death of Kayden Moy, 16, who died after a targeted" attack on a Scottish beach.Police were called to reports of a teenager being seriously injured at Irvine beach in North Ayrshire on Saturday at about 6.45pm. Continue reading...

Eleventh-hour conflicts over youth mobility and fishing rights showed both sides bargaining hard

Trump describes call as excellent,' despite Putin's lack of support for ceasefire that US said was primary objective

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Key allies call escalation egregious' and promise concrete' response if Israel does not end renewed offensive and allow aid into stripBenjamin Netanyahu has vowed that Israel will take control" of all Gaza, as three key allies attacked his egregious" escalation of the military campaign and blockade on humanitarian aid.Britain, France and Canada attacked Israel's expansion of its war as disproportionate, described conditions in Gaza as intolerable" and threatened a concrete" response if Israel's campaign continues. Continue reading...

Police make chance find of sculpture that adorned Doors singer's Paris grave until its 1988 disappearanceCarved out of white marble and covered in graffiti, the hefty bust disappeared in 1988. Now, 37 years later, the doe-eyed sculpture that once adorned the grave of the American singer Jim Morrison has been found, in what Paris prosecutors described as a chance discovery".Police in France said they had been carrying out a search related to a fraud case when they happened to stumble upon the bust of the frontman of The Doors. The announcement, made on social media on Monday, was accompanied by a photo showing the graying sculpture still covered in graffiti and missing a chunk of its nose, reportedly sliced off by souvenir hunters before its disappearance. Continue reading...

Data including criminal records downloaded in significant' cyber-attack at Legal Aid Agency in April, ministry confirmsThe personal data of hundreds of thousands of legal aid applicants in England and Wales dating back to 2010, including criminal records and financial details, has been accessed and downloaded in a significant" cyber-attack.Officials admit that the data may have included contact details and addresses of applicants, their dates of birth, national ID numbers, criminal history, employment status and financial data such as contribution amounts, debts and payments. Continue reading...

Fremont emergency crews search the Sandusky river near Miles Newton Bridge for at least one missing personThree members of a family - including a five-year-old girl - were killed after a train struck them while they were on a railroad bridge over a northern Ohio river, authorities said on Monday.Crews equipped with sonar had been scouring the Sandusky River through the night before they found the girl's body on Monday near the bridge, said the mayor of Fremont, Ohio, Danny Sanchez. Continue reading...

While getting UK-EU deal through parliament should be easy enough, cries of betrayal' may chime with some votersThere were two moments at the UK-EU summit where it felt like a corner had truly been turned. It was not on agrifoods, nor youth mobility, defence or fishing.When Keir Starmer said the UK had changed, the most symbolic evidence of that came in a press release from No 10 that set out the terms of the agreement brokered at Lancaster House. Continue reading...

Presenter says stepping back feels like the responsible course of action' after reposting video with antisemitic tropesGary Lineker will leave the BBC this weekend without a payoff, days after he apologised for amplifying online material with antisemitic connotations.The presenter, the highest-paid on-air star at the BBC, had been scheduled to present the 2026 World Cup and next season's FA Cup for the corporation. Continue reading...

Equality Trust says billionaires getting ludicrously' richer, with top two now wealthier than whole of 1990 rich listThe number of billionaires in the UK has grown sharply - from 15 in 1990 to 165 in 2024 - at the same time as inequality in the UK's overall wealth distribution has dramatically increased, analysis has found.Timed to coincide with the Sunday Times' rich list, the Equality Trust's investigation also found that billionaires have become ludicrously" more wealthy, with their average wealth skyrocketing by more than 1,000% over the same period. Continue reading...

Deal would allow US to carry out military activities in and from Denmark, giving them powers over Danish civiliansWhen Copenhagen signed a new defence agreement giving the US unhindered access" to Danish airbases in December 2023, the idea of granting sweeping powers to US forces on Danish soil was quite a different proposition to what it is today.The US, then under the Biden administration, was an unwavering Nato ally that Denmark had followed into wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Nordic neighbours Sweden, Finland and Norway had similar agreements with the US. Continue reading...

Aubrey Williams produced huge, colourful abstract paintings and was influenced by music and climate issuesAn artist whose work was part of the first wave of abstract art to hit the UK and presaged the climate breakdown protests as well as debates over the legacies of British colonialism is undergoing an overdue" reappraisal, according to experts and critics.Aubrey Williams, the Guyanese artist who moved to Britain in the 1950s, was a respected figure in his lifetime and the subject of several exhibitions in the UK. But after his death from cancer in 1990, the artist's influence and the legacy of his abstract painting has slowly faded from view in Britain. Continue reading...

Amid euphoria of JJ's win, acceptance that cash-strapped public broadcaster could face bill of 30m for 2026 eventAustria's triumph in the Eurovision song contest has sparked a wave of joy across the country, but also fretting about how to pay for hosting the event next year.The cash-strapped public broadcaster ORF, which would bear the bulk of the organising costs along with the still-to-be-named host city, admitted that Vienna-born JJ's win was a mixed blessing at a time of belt-tightening. Continue reading...

French media report that award-winning artist suffered heart attack and died in hospital early on Saturday morningWerenoi, one of the most successful rappers in France, has died aged 31.His record label Believe confirmed the news, writing on Instagram: It is with immense sadness that we learned of Werenoi's passing ... may he rest in peace." Continue reading...

Unique community in Israel appeals to UK for support after Knesset's proposed 80% tax on its fundingAn Israeli village where Jews and Palestinians live together to promote peace is in danger of losing vital overseas funding following Israeli government proposals to impose an 80% tax on foreign donations, residents have warned.Leading figures from the unique community - Wahat Salam/Neve Shalom, which translates as Oasis of Peace" - flew to the UK this week in a visit hosted by the Co-operative Group, which is calling for the UK government to support peace-building cooperatives worldwide with foreign and development policy. Continue reading...

Author of 36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem says of his work about war, family and racism: I've basically been writing it my whole life'

Michael Fanone slams Mike Johnson and Republicans for long delaying congressionally approved officer tributeDonald Trump and his Republican allies are petty bitches" for refusing to display a congressionally approved plaque honoring police officers who protected the US Capitol when the president's supporters attacked the complex on 6 January 2021, says one of the cops in question, Michael Fanone.Speaking recently on the show hosted by political broadcast journalist Jim Acosta, the famously candid and oft profane Fanone said he also had a suggestion about where Republican US House speaker Mike Johnson could position the commemoration. I think that it would be ... perfect ... if the plaque was shoved up his ass," said Fanone, who retired from the Washington DC police force after being wounded during the January 6th attack. Continue reading...

Brussels understood to have dropped demands to link deal duration for food checks with fishing rights in run-up to summit

Anglers say more than a third of freshwater sites breach phosphate levels for good ecological status

Australian woman, 50, faces three murder charges and one charge of attempted murder over lethal mushroom lunch. Follow live updatesPatterson's defence lawyer, Sophie Stafford, is cross-examining McKenzie.She agrees she removed and disposed of every death cap mushroom she could find when she spotted the mushrooms. Continue reading...

Flood watches for several rivers in Hunter region, with damaging surf conditions from Sydney to north of Newcastle predicted to erode coastline

Counter-terrorism expert tells inquest into 2024 stabbing attack by Joel Cauchi guard talks about shots being fired with an armed offender' in triple-zero call

Researchers fear new models will circumvent forthcoming disposables ban as diverted imports also drive down pricesChina is set to flood Britain with cheap vapes, researchers have said, as manufacturers seek to capitalise on the world's second biggest market after Donald Trump's tariffs.A trade standoff between Washington and Beijing has thrown the business world into chaos, with investors watching as each country dares the other to blink first. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Bank also set to slash bonuses in wider shake-up that could help make it more attractive to potential buyersSantander UK is freezing salaries, slashing bonuses and cutting jobs across its commercial banking arm as part of a wider shake-up that could help make the bank more attractive to potential buyers.The bank began unexpectedly changing bankers' job titles and shuffling staff into new teams earlier this month amid a larger review of the Spanish lender's UK business, where there is mounting frustration over regulations and costs. Continue reading...

Treasurer Jaclyn Symes says budget will prioritise frontline services and cost-of-living measures over bigger savings

Netanyahu signals openness to deal with Hamas and says Israel will allow some aid into GazaThe Israeli army has announced the start of a large-scale offensive in Gaza, describing extensive ground operations" to seize operational control" of swaths of the devastated Palestinian territory as a second day of indirect ceasefire talks in Qatar ended without any breakthrough.Israeli military officials said its forces had eliminated dozens of terrorists, dismantled terrorist infrastructure sites ... and [were] currently being deployed in key positions". Continue reading...

This blog is now closed. Read our latest story hereIn an earlier post, we reported on the dire situation at the Indonesian hospital, which is reportedly under siege by Israeli forces.Now Gaza's health ministry has said that all public hospitals in the north of the territory were out of service". Continue reading...

Rafa Trzaskowski and historian Karol Nawrocki, backed by populist right, both claim about 30% of vote as runoff looms

EU ambassadors told to remain on standby for late-night meeting in scenes reminiscent of Brexit talksNegotiations on a significant reset of the UK's relationship with the European Union have gone down to the wire", with fisheries and youth mobility among outstanding sticking points with hours to go before the start of a crucial summit.In scenes reminiscent of the Brexit talks, British officials were still trying to reach a compromise with their EU counterparts overnight, as Keir Starmer prepared to host the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, in London on Monday. Continue reading...